Milk Pot

Original OwnerOriginally owned by the Ira Webster family American

Dateearly 19th century

MediumWheel-thrown, Chinese export porcelain with overglaze enamels in purple, blue, green, orange, pink, and black

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including handle x depth): 5 x 3 3/4 x 3in. (12.7 x 9.5 x 7.6cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineGift of Dr. Annie C. Miller

DescriptionRound, Chinese export porcelain milk pot with hand-painted overglaze enamels in purple, blue, green, orange, pink, and black. The milk pot has a small round foot, swelled sides, a narrow neck, and a small, triangular spout. The inside of the rim is devoid of glaze, indicating that this milk pot had a lid at one time. A hand-painted border at the outside edge of the rim consists of three black enamel lines, with a purple enamel, scalloped line drawn to imitate waves between the top two lines. Below this is an undulating dotted line of orange enamel with three groups of purple flowers and green leaves decorating the undulating line periodically. Remnants of a molded and applied handle emerge from the side of the milk pot opposite the spout. The handle would have once consisted of two straps of twisted, molded, porcelain that were applied to the body of the milk pot. All that remain now are two stumps and two longer portions of the handle. Small, floral decorations have been applied to the milk pot where the stumps of the handle meet the porcelain. These decorations have been hand-painted with orange enamel. A white, sticky label with gold edges is adhered to the side of the milk pot to the left of the handle. A hand-written statement on the label reads, "Belonged To: Ira/ Websters' parents,/ of West Hartford/ Conn." Opposite the handle, beneath the spout, is the milk pot's primary decoration, which consists of hand-painted purple and pink flowers with green leaves, over a delicate blue bow. There is a border at the foot of the milk pot, consisting of a series of four blue enamel dots arranged in a diamond pattern. There is crazing over all of the outside surfaces of the milk pot, which has turned yellow.

Object number1941.9.2.2

InscribedA white, sticky label with gold edges is adhered to the side of the milk pot. A hand-written, statement on the label reads, "Belonged To: Ira/ Websters' parents,/ of West Hartford/ Conn."

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